English Core PDF
English Core PDF
Maximum marks:100
(12 Marks)
2.
3.
Gandhi understood this organic process and used this universal law of nature to
his benefit. Gandhi grew in small ways, in his day-to-day affairs. He did not
wake up one day and find himself to be the Mahatma. In fact, there was
nothing much in his early life that showed signs of greatness. But from his midtwenties onwards, he deliberately and consistently attempted to change himself,
reform himself and grow in some small way every day. Day by day, hour by
1
hour, he risked failure, experimented and learnt from mistakes. In small and large
situations alike, he took up rather than avoid responsibility.
4.
People have always marvelled at the effortless way in which Gandhi could
accomplish the most difficult tasks. He displayed great deal of self-mastery and
discipline that was amazing. These things did not come easily to him. Years of
practice and disciplined training went into making his successes possible. Very
few saw his struggles, fears, doubts and anxieties, or his inner efforts to
overcome them. They saw the victory, but not the struggle.
5.
This is a common factor in the lives of all great people: they exercised their
freedoms and choices in small ways that made great impact on their lives and
their environment. Each of their small decisions and actions, added up to have a
profound impact in the long run. By understanding this principle, we can move
forward, with confidence, in the direction of our dreams. Often when our ideal
goal looks too far from us, we become easily discouraged, disheartened and
pessimistic. However, when we choose to grow in small ways, taking small steps
one at a time, performing it becomes easy.
(I) On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following
questions by choosing the most appropriate option.
(14 = 4 Marks)
1.
a.
Big things, big actions and big decisions make a person great
b.
c.
d.
2.
What does the writer mean by saying chipped away at their bad habits?
a.
b.
c.
d.
3.
a.
b.
c.
Every day Gandhi made efforts to change himself in some small way
d.
4.
a.
b.
c.
d.
All of these
(16 = 6 Marks)
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Which things about Gandhis life were not seen by most people?
(III) Pick out words from the passage which are similar in meaning to the
following:
a.
b.
(2 Marks)
(10 Marks)
South India is known for its music and for its arts and rich literature. Madras or
Chennai can be called the cultural capital and the soul of Mother India. The city
is built low in pleasant contrast to the ghoulish tall structures of Mumbai and
Kolkata. It has vast open spaces and ample greenery. The majestic spacious
Mount Road looks like a river, wide and deep. A stroll on the Marina beach in
the evening with the sea glistening in your face is refreshing. The breeze soothes
the body, it refreshes the mind, sharpens the tongue and brightens the intellect.
2.
One can never feel dull in Chennai. The intellectual and cultural life of the city is
something of a marvel. Every street corner of Chennai has a literary forum, a
debating society and music, dance and dramatic club. The intelligent arguments,
the sparkling wit and dashing irony enliven both the political and the literary
meetings. There is a young mens association which attracts brilliant speakers
and equally brilliant listeners to its meetings. It is a treat to watch the speakers
use their oratorical weapons. Chennai speakers are by and large sweet and
urbane, though the cantankerous, fire-eating variety is quite often witnessed in
political campaigning. The more urbane speakers weave their arguments slowly
like the unfolding of a leisurely Karnataka raga.
3.
Music concerts and dance performances draw packed houses. There is hardly any
cultural family in Chennai that does not learn and patronize music and dance in
its pristine purity. Rukmani Devi Arundales Kalakshetra is a renowned
international centre.
dancers who have brought name and glory to our country. Karnataka music has a
peculiar charm of its own. It has the moons soft beauty and moons soft pace.
Thousands of people flock to the temple maidans to get drunk with the
mellifluous melodies of their favorite singers. They sit out all night in the
grueling heat, swaying to the rhythm of nadaswaram and rollicking with the
measured beats of mridangam. M.S Subbulakshmi is considered to be the
nightingale of the South.
4.
The Gods might descend from heaven to see a South Indian damsel dancing.
There are several varieties of South Indian dance Bharat Natyam, Mohini
Attam, Odissi, Kathakali etc. age cannot wither nor custom stale its beautiful
variety. Bharat Natyam is the most graceful and enchanting dance form whereas
Kathakali is most masculine and virile. South Indian dances combine
voluptuousness with purity. Here every muscle and fibre of the body vibrates
into life, and as the tempo increases, a divine flame-like passion bodies forth as if
making an assault on heaven.
5.
South Indian dress, particularly of the males, is puritanically simple. There you
cannot distinguish a judge from an ardali by their dress. South Indian ladies too
look charming and graceful in their colourful Kanjeevaram and Mysore silk
saris.
6.
South Indian cuisine, especially dosa, idli and vada are so delicious that
now we can enjoy them almost everywhere in India as well as in some foreign
countries. The Madras idli, which was a favourite of Gandhiji is served with
sambhar and coconut chutney.
(I) On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following
questions by choosing the most appropriate option.
1.
2.
(2 Marks)
tasty food
(b)
(c)
scenic beauty
(d)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(16 = 6 Marks)
3.
4.
How do we know that music is very important for the people of South India?
5.
What is the common connection between language, music and dance of South
India?
6.
7.
8.
(III) Find words from the passage which are similar in meaning to the following.
(2 Marks)
(a) ill-tempered and quarrelsome (Paragraph 2)
(b) smooth and sweet (Paragraph 3)
(8 Marks)
Whether work should be placed among the causes of happiness or among the causes
of unhappiness may perhaps be regarded as a doubtful question. There is certainly
much work which is exceedingly irksome, and an excess of work is always very
painful. However, work is not, to most people, more painful than idleness. There are,
in work, all grades; from more relief of tedium up to the profoundest delights,
according to the nature of the work and the abilities of the worker. Most of the work
that most people have to do is not interesting in itself, but even that work has certain
great advantages. To begin with, it fills a good many hours of the day without the need
of deciding what one shall do. Most people, when they are left free to fill their own
time according to their own choice, are at a loss to think of anything sufficiently
pleasant to be worth doing. And whatever they decide on, they are troubled by the
feeling that something else would have been more pleasant here. To be able to fill
leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization and at present very few people
have reached this level. Moreover the exercise of choice is tiresome in itself. Except,
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On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using
headings and sub headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever
necessary minimum 4) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an
B.
(5 Marks)
(3 Marks)
(4 Marks)
Or
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Namita/ Namit has come out successful in the XII class examination. She/he has
decided to have a party for her/his friends. Draft an invitation in about 50 words
giving details of venue, time and date.
Q5. You are Amit/Amita staying at Sunrise Apartments, Gymkhana Road, Pune. The
main road leading to this colony has three open manholes causing frequent
accidents at night. The streetlight is also not available. Write a letter to the Editor
of The Times of India expressing your concern about the apathy of the
authorities towards this situation. Also suggest ways to mobilize city dwellers,
with the help of school children, for the cause for safe roads.
(6 Marks)
Or
You are Shreya/Shreyas. Write an application in response to the following
advertisement in a national daily. You consider yourself suitable and eligible for
this post.
Applications are invited for the post of a Nursery teacher/PRT in Y.K. International
School, Ghaziabad, UP. The candidate must have a minimum experience of 3 years of
teaching at the primary and pre-primary level. The applicant must have a pleasant and
energetic personality. She/he should be creative and adaptable. Attractive salary.
Interested candidates should apply to the Principal with a detailed resume.
Q6. You are an active member of the Animals Lovers Club of your school which
works for preventing cruelty to animals. Write an article in 150 -200 words for
your school magazine emphasising the need to co-exist peacefully with animals.
You are Zaheeda/Zahir of P. K. Senior Secondary School, Hyderabad.
Or
Over the past few years there has been a constant rise in coaching institutes and
private tuition centers all over India. Write an article in about 150-200 words
highlighting the exploitation of young minds that seek sincere counselling and
proper direction. You are Gurpreet, a student of class XII of Indira Public
School, Jamshedpur.
(10 Marks)
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Q7. You are Suraj/Sandhya of Gargi Senior Secondary School Delhi. Games and
Sports should be made compulsory in schools. Write a speech for morning
assembly on the Importance of Games and Sports in Personality
Development in about 150 -200 words.
(10 Marks)
Or
You have been asked to participate in a debate competition on the topic
Community service once a week should be introduced in all schools and should be
graded.
Write the speech in about 200 words either for or against the motion.
(1 Mark)
b)
(1 Mark)
c)
(1 Mark)
d)
(1 Mark)
Or
a)
(1 Mark)
b)
(1 Mark)
c)
(1 Mark)
d)
(1 Mark)
Q9. Answer any FOUR of the following questions in about 30-40 words each:
(43=12 Marks)
a)
b)
Why did Edla still entertain the peddler even after she knew the truth about him?
c)
d)
Why does Dr. Sadao mutter the words My friend while treating the American
prisoner of war? What is ironical about his words?
e)
f)
(6 marks)
Though Rajkumar Shukla was an illiterate peasant; he was resolute and was able to
bring a change in the lives of the people of Champaran. Taking hints from the text,
write an article on the topic, Grit and Determination can take you a long way.
Or
A big boy pushed Douglas into the deep end of the swimming pool which could have
led to his death. Concerns regarding bullying and ragging persists in many teenage
groups. Quoting examples from the text, discuss the problem of bullying and its
effects on the victims. Also suggest ways to deal with this problem.
Q11. Answer the following in about 120 150 words
(6 marks)
10
(6 marks)
How does the author bring in natural elements into the novel Silas Marner
Or
Illustrate is the ending of the novel The Invisible Man happy and just? What is your
reaction when Griffen gets killed and Marvel gets to keep all the stolen money? Are
you glad that the invisibility formula is hidden from Kemp , who could use it?
Q13. Answer the following in about 120 150 words
(6 marks)
Eppie is a character who remains highly predictable in her reactions. Prove this with
reference to her character traits.
Or
Why did Kemp turn out differently than Griffen? After all they are both scientists. Is
Kemp less isolated than Griffen? Is it simply because Kemp has more money?
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